The final report on the Faculties of the Future is now available to the York University community to read and engage with summary recommendations emerging from the consultations.
The Faculties of the Future project was launched as part of the York U Forward Action Plan, a strategic initiative designed to advance the University’s long-term vision, strengthen academic excellence and build a more sustainable future for York.
The project’s purpose was to reimagine the academic structure and operational sustainability of the University, ensuring that future changes are driven by academic priorities and the commitment to student success. The report provides a framework for Faculties to consider opportunities for renewal that were brought forward by the community, with recommendations that invite further study in local contexts.
Provost and Vice-President Academic Lisa Philipps was tasked with leading this work in her role as senior policy advisor to President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton. Philipps guided a year-long consultative process engaging nearly 2,000 faculty, staff, students and academic leaders in more than 75 sessions across York’s Glendon, Keele and Markham campuses. The result is a comprehensive report that sets the stage for the next phase of academic renewal at York University.
“This report reflects the collective wisdom and aspirations of our community,” says Philipps. “I am deeply grateful to the working group and to everyone who took the time to participate. The next phase belongs to deans and colleagues at the Faculty level who will now consider which opportunities best fit their local context. Our goal is to enable academic innovation while remaining true to York’s values of access, equity and student success, and positioning the University as a top destination for learning and knowledge that speaks to pressing societal issues and career opportunities of the future.”
The report identifies major interconnected themes that emerged and reflect York's commitment to the University's mission and long-term sustainability. The first emphasizes that any change should be guided by a forward-looking academic vision that honours York’s values and advances social justice, encouraging decisions that strengthen the University’s research and teaching impact.
Central to the second theme is student success. Facilitating access to high-quality learning is seen as core to York’s identity and it's most urgent priority at this time. The report highlights the importance of equipping students with the knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to navigate 21st century learning as well as hands-on experiences, while also advancing cutting-edge research and creative activities that underpin the University’s reputation.
The third theme calls for curricular renewal as an essential part of any reorganization. The report encourages Faculties to streamline and enhance academic offerings, making it easier for students to navigate their programs and pursue inspiring pathways. This approach is designed to foster collaboration among faculty members and academic units to ensure programs and courses respond to emerging needs.
Balancing financial realities across different areas of the University is the focus of the fourth theme. The community acknowledges the need for internal cross-subsidisation to support high-cost programs while also stressing the importance of investing in areas with strong student demand and growth potential.
Finally, the fifth theme advocates for a tailored approach to organizational change. Recognizing that each Faculty and department has unique circumstances and needs, renewal efforts should be adapted to local contexts. This flexibility is intended to maximize the benefits of change, whether by enhancing program quality, reducing duplication of effort and/or addressing specific financial challenges.
The report emphasizes that recommendations are open to adaptation, not prescriptive mandates. Next steps include Faculty-level discussions this fall, with deans supporting colleagues to identify promising opportunities for change and the supports needed for proposal development. Deans will report back to the provost by mid-November, with outcomes summarized for the community later in the academic year.
“Our community’s commitment to shaping York’s future is evident in the level of engagement that we saw during the consultations, which shaped this report, and in the creative ideas that were shared and are reflected in it,” notes Lenton. “I want to thank Lisa Philipps for leading this work. We know that projects like this one are closely tied to our five-year budget plan and our shared commitment to financial sustainability. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this process and I look forward to seeing how our Faculties and deans will embrace this work, consult with their colleagues and their students, and lead the next phase of renewal at York.”
For more information, Faculty and staff are encouraged to review the full report, consult the Forward Action Plan and participate in upcoming engagement opportunities.